The Continental: A Saab (Maybe) Returns, Design Talk, and Future Lighting

Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental. Is Saab returning? Speculation is rife that 9-3 production could imminently restart. Now owned by NEVS (National Electric Vehicles Sweden), Saab's old Trollhättan factory could start cranking out vehicles again this fall. The neo-9-3 would be powered by conventional internal combustion engines, but NEVS is planning to own up to its name and eventually launch an electric vehicle. The second-gen 9-3 is not exactly fresh; it was launched in 2002 and last received a thorough makeover in 2007. I think it was an well-designed car;  it was perhaps the most interesting derivative of the GM Epsilon I platform, which also sat beneath the Opel Vectra/Signum, Chevrolet Malibu/Malibu Maxx, Saturn Aura, and the spectacularly unsuccessful, Europe-only Cadillac BLS (aka "Bob Lutz Special"). The 9-3 Turbo X SportCombi wagon was hugely awesome, though—can we please get that one again? Talk on Design Mercedes-Benz designers are irked by BMW's new 4-series coupe, which features a front apron that resembles not only a Ninja Turtle (in my opinion), but also more closely the Mercedes E63 AMG's fascia. This front-end maw will eventually spread to all AMG models, while the previous AMG front apron design—still seen on most current AMG models such as the SL—will trickle down to Benz's regular models. There is some unhappiness about the new theme appearing on a BMW. Not at Villa d'Este. I have written about the drama concerning Italdesign Giugiaro's non-presence at the Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este a few weeks ago. Not only was Italdesign denied a spot, but so was Lamborghini. Italdesign even released a fretful statement informing that "unfortunately, this year we won't be there. And not because we chose not to be there." Is the BMW Group, the patron of the event, trying to exclude the Volkswagen Group and its subsidiaries? That is hardly the case, I believe, after speaking with a person with intimate knowledge of the selection process. BMW exerts no influence in the procedure. The Giugiaro Parcour—the controversial crossover concept that recently crashed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (and another Ninja Turtle lookalike)—was deemed "honestly not good enough." And Lamborghini's proposal? "It was overly aggressive. We have a certain style to maintain." Ouch. Goodbye, Xenon Lights An upcoming high-volume premium car, which I can't talk about quite yet, will offer a choice of halogen and up-level LEDs headlights. But there will be no xenon option. And that is going to become something of a pattern, and sooner rather than later. The proliferation of LEDs is as rapid as it was unexpected for many. A decade down the road, I don't see much of a market for xenon lighting anymore. LEDs are more flexible, brighter, and will be cheaper than xenon technology. What's coming after LEDs? That's a bit open right now. Organic LEDs and laser light? Perhaps, but today, there isn't even a semblance of viability for those concepts, at least as far as headlights are concerned. Taillights? Perhaps there will be OLED taillights in a few years. First Drive: 2014 BMW 435i Instrumented Test: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo First Drive: 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4MATIC Autobahn Tested:  Volkswagen Beetle Turbo I don't like retro design, but I enjoyed my two weeks behind the wheel of a 210-horsepower Beetle Turbo test car in Germany. I was impressed by the precise handling and steering, and the attention to detail employed throughout the interior. Volkswagen managed to make the 2.0-liter inline-four sound like a flat-four engine—a nod, of course, to the original Beetle's engine design. I was less impressed by the navigation system, which froze repeatedly, and by the hood, which started to flap excitedly above 140 mph. (This is an autobahn test, after all . . . ) Volkswagen's perceived quality and materials are great; actual quality sometimes needs to catch up. Speaking of autobahn-storming, BMW will launch the latest iteration of the ultra-powerful X5 M next fall. It will be powered by the same engine that motivates the current model, but output will be juiced to around 600 horsepower.  An eight-speed automatic will be fitted, and this same gear will eventually make its way into the next X6 M. Down the road, of course—first, the base X6 model will get replaced. from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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